Nursing unit with retractable container therefor



A. M. ALLEN 2,446,451

NURSING UNIT WITH RETRACTABLE CONTAINER THEREFOR Filed Oct. 27,: 1944 Show;

Patented Aug. 3, 1948 NURSING UNIT WITH RETRACTABLE CONTAINER THEREFOR Adda M. Allen, Arlington, Va., assignor to Dis-.

posable Bottle Corporation,-Wasiiington, D. C a corporation of Delaware.

Application October 27, 1944, Serial No. 560,610

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to nursing units, and more particularly to that type of unit having a retractable throw-away container, and has for one of its objects the production of a nursing unit which comprises a rigid neck to which is detachably secured a container, which container becomes limp when liquid is placed therein and which container automatically collapses and retracts into the rigid neck as the last 01 the liquid is sucked from the container by an infant using the nursing unit, in this way providing anoncolic nursing unit in view of the fact that nonecumulation of air is permitted within the container.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and efllcient nursing unit which may be easily and quickly assembled for firmly securing the collapsible retractible throw-away container to the rigid engaging neck.-

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the nursing unit in use;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of :the nursing unit illustrating the appearance or the container after liquid has been placed therein, the container resting upon a support;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of .the unit as it appears in a nursing position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view, partly in section illustrating the manner in which the limp receptacle retracts into the rigid neck as liquid is sucked therefrom;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view or the neck illustrating the manner of securing the neck to the container;

Figure 8 is a side elevational view or the securns ing:

. Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the securing ring, illustrating the formation oi the periphery thereof;

Figure 8 is a group view of the neck, a portion.

of the container and the securing ring; and

Figure 9 is a side 'elevational view of the presterilized container before the liquid is placed therein.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that ill designates a rigid neck which is provided with a nipple-engaging rim II which rim may be of a suitable size to be engaged by a nipple or a desired type. The neck II may be formed of glass, plastic metal. or any suitable rigid material. The neck I! is provided with a depending annular flange l2 which is preferably provided with an internal /2 or A thread. A depending container-engaging skirt I3 is carried by the neck Ill and is inwardly spaced relative to the flange I2. This skirt 13 preferably extends .below or beyond the lower edge of the flange I! as shown in the enlarged view Figure 5. The outer face It oi! the skirt l3 preferably tapers inwardly .to conform to the pitch or angle or the sides of the cup or container 15.

The container It may be of the paper cup type, may be formed of light pliant material or Cellophane or other material which is pliant and possesses the characteristic of becoming limp and losing its stillness when liquid is placed therein to assume the appearance and position of the container 15 shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, when in use. The container I5 is preferably provided with a rolled bead ii of the conventional type which extends laterally of the cup and constitutes a securing flange.

A securing or clamping ring or member I I which may be made of glass, plastic, metal, or other materiai, engages the neck Ill and is provided with an inset externally threaded flange l8 having a /2 or M; thread It to engage the companion thread formed internally of the flange I2 to lock the ring il in position when these threads are engaged. Any suitable securing means, however, may be used for securing the ring I! to the neck in. A washer 20 may be used to engage the flange or head It, if desired, to insure a desired and eilective seal between the neck, container, and ring.

As shown in Figure 5, the comers ot the ring I! and flange I! may be rounded where they engage the container I! to prevent shearing or injuring of the container IS. The flange i3, as shown in Figure 4, defines a cavity 2| into which the collamible receding container automatically recedes or contracts as the liquid within the container is sucked out of the'container by the infant using the unit. The exterior atmospheric pressure upon the limp flexible, retractible, or receding container will cause the container to recede into the nipple feeding cavity as the pressure within the container falls below the exterior atmospheric pressure. Because of this action. I have found that the danger of colic when using this nursing unit is reduced to a minimum since no large pocket of air is present within the container, 'as is the case with other well known nursing units. In other words, the limp flexible and pliant container 'will follow the liquid into the cavity 2| as the liquid flows out of the cavity 2| and through .the nipple N-see Figures 1, 3 and 4. Furthermore, the neck 10 will tend to tip or incline the nipple and neck toward the infants mouth as indicated in Figure 3, and the limp onflexlble container II will lie snugly upon the infants chest. blanket. or other support, and will conform to the contour of the support upon which it may rest.

As shown, the neck I is provided with a pin rality of spaced ribs 22 between which are arranged dished-out portions to receive the fingers of an operator to facilitate the gripping of the neck by an operator. The ring I l is also provided with spaced ribs 22* upon its periphery between which ribs 22' are formed dished-out portions 21' to receive the fingers of an operator as indicated in Figure 7. j a

The container II maybe graduated as at I! to facilitate gauging the amount of liquid placed therein.

As shown in Figure 8, the tapering wall or face ll of the skirt ll will facilitate .the dropping of the open mouth of the container in place over the skirt it. The bead Ii fits into the pocket 24 formed between the flange l2 and the skirt It, as shown in Figure 5. The ring ll, as shown in 1 Figure 5, is provided-with an inclined face formed at the same angle as the wall or face II, and the wall of the container I! so as to tightly clamp against the head 16 at its upper end and tofilrmly clamp the wall of the container I! be-- tween .the skirt" and ring ll thereby providing a maximum grippin face longitudinally 'of the container at its mouth and transversely of the bead ll.

It should be understood that when the Cellophane or other pliant container collapses or becomes limp as the liquid or feeding formula is placed therein. the container will recede from the bottom toward and into the neck I 0, thereby preventing the ingress of air into .the container and consequently prevent the infant from sucking air which would be likely .to cause colic. Due to the fact that the pliant limp container may and does take a different shape from its pre-use shape when liquid is placed therein, it yields readily to force of pressure without breaking. In this way, an attendant may force liquid out from the container and through the nipple it merely by compressing the container with the fingers. Furthermore, by noting the manner in which the container collapses an attendant may know whether or not the infant is nursing and how the contents of the container is being consumed.

It should also be noted that the nature of the nursing unit and its lightness of material lessens thetendency of the bottle to pull away from the mouth of the infant. Also it should be noted that the disposable, pliant pre-sterilized container is always ready for use and is preferably kept in a sealed casing until used. After use the container is thrown; away.

Because of the fact that the container when filled with liquid is limp and flexible, it will lie flat upon a support with little or no tendency to roll, and since it is collapsible and retractible and follows the volume of liquid as the liquid is nursed from the bottle, the formula. or liquid constantly fllls the nipple and is fed into and through the nipple. This will reduce .the air pocket within the container .to a minimum. The merest pressure will induce feeding, and enable an infant to conserve its strength, and the present device provides a closer approach to the natural breast feeding than other nursing units.

It should be noted that Cellophane has been found preferable as a material from which the becoming pliant or limp and flexible when liquid is placed therein in a manner similar to the Cello- I phane container.

Since the nursing unit tilts or tips toward the infant's mouth, and the unit is prevented from rolling by conforming to the contour of its support while the infant is nursing, the nipple rests upon the upper surface of the infant's tongue, causing the sides of the tongue to curl close to, and conform to. the contour of the nipple. In this way. the nipple is retained in contact with the tongue and against the roof of the mouth, and the cheeks of the infant are therefore left free to create the desired suction. This nursing unit permits a very young or weak infant to instinctively nurse in a natural, practically effortless manner characteristic of human breast-feedme. Because the unit tilts toward the infant's mouth and the container recedes into the neck of the unit. the flow of liquid through the nipple will be facilitated, thereby relieving the infant of otherwise tiring effort, and conserving the strength of the infant and encouraging the infant to consume the entire contents of the container. Also because .the unit does not roll, and because the nipple rests upon the tongue as described, the nipple will be prevented from falling to one side or out of the month while nursing.

The subject matter disclosed herein, but not claimed, is claimed in my copending application Serial 526,354, filed March 14, 1944.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A nursing unit comprising a pliable, disposable container bag closed at its rearward end and open at its forward end and a reusable end closure for said container bag comprising a relatively narrow collar of rigid material and a nursing nipple attached thereto, said collar having a dimension axially of the unit which is a small fraction of the length of said bag, said collar having a relatively short, rearwardly extending skirt formed to enter the open end of the container bag and further comprising a clamping ring adapted to encircle the open end of the container bag to clamp the same in sealing relation against said skirt, said collar having means for connectingthe nipple with its nursing portion extending centrally and forwardly therefrom, the nursing portion of said nipple being of diameter substantially less than and being spaced a substantial distance inwardly from the outer edge of said 'collar, the outer forward face of said end closure being formed to taper steeply inwardly to the nursing portion of said nipple, whereby the exterior of said collar comprises a narrow circular rim adapted to rest on a surface while permitting the nursing portion of the nipple to tilt inwardly pliant container is constructed, which material. 7 open at its forward end and a reusable end closure for said container bag comprising a relatively narrow collar of rigid material and a, nursing nipple attached thereto, said collar having a dimension axially of the unit which is a small fraction of the length of said bag, said collar comprising two concentric parts, one of said parts being a neck portion and the other part being a retaining ring portion, said parts having cooperating means to clamp the same against one another to retain the open end of the container in sealing engagement therebetween, said collar including a circular gasket of resilient material disposed between said parts and positioned to seal against the outer surface of the open nd of the container bag when said parts are clamped together, said collar having means for connecting the nipple with its nursing portion extending centrally and forwardly therefrom, the nursing port-ion of said nipple being of diameter substantially less than said collar and being spaced a substantial distance inwardly from the outer edge of said collar, the outer forward face of said end closure being formed to taper steeply inwardly to the nursing portion of said nipple, whereby th exterior of said collar comprises a narrow circular rim adapted to rest on a surface while permitting the nursing portion of the nipple to tilt inwardly at a steep angle toward the infant's mouth, said container comprising sufiicient material and being so formed as to provide, when filled, a limp mass which rests on and conforms to the shape of the supp rtin surface, the material of said container being suiilciently thin and pliable as to be retractible toward and into the rim formed by said collar as the infant withdraws liquid from the container. I

3. A nursing unit comprising a pliable, disposable container bag of thin transparent material which is closed at its rearward end and open at its forward end and a reusable end closurefor said bag comprising a collar of rigid material and a nursing nipple attached thereto, said collar having a dimension axially of the unit which is a small fraction of the length of said bag, said collar comprising concentric neck and retaining 45 ring portions, said neck ring portion having a 6 relatively short rearwardly and inwardly tapering skirt which enters the open end of said bag, said retaining ring portion encircling the open end of said bag to clamp and seal the same against said skirt, said neck portion having means for connecting said nipple thereto with its nursing portion extending centrallyand forwardly therefrom, the nursing portion 05 said nipple being positioned a substantial distance inwardly from the outer edge of said collar providing for the downward tilting of said nipple at a steep angle toward the infant's mouth when the rim of said collar is resting on a surface, said bag when filled forming a limp mass which rests on and conforms to the shape of the supporting surface.

, ADDA M. ALIEN.

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